Automatic signal-actuating mechanism for railways



S. F. BASHARA. AUTOMATIC SIGNAL ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15, I918.

Patented July 20,1920.

H. E w I QM S H M s 2 Ni MN, NN \N E E E E E t E S. F. BASHARA.

AUTOMATIC SIGNAL ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR, 15, 191B.

'1 ,346,934, Patented July 20, 1920.

UNITED snares rem" FEICE.

SAMUEL nennrs BASI-IABA, on nous'ron, TEXAS.

AUTOMATIC SIGNAL ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAYS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 20, 1920 Application filed March 15, 1918. Serial No. 222,728. 7

My invention relates to automatic signal 7 actuating mechanism for railways, and more speclfically relates to improvements on the actuating mechanism disclosed by the patcut to J. Fears of March 9,1915, Serial No.

732,696. Further my invention relates to automatic signal operating mechanism which is actuated by the wheels of a car movable over a rail, and which mechanism is capable of being operated by the wheel from any one of a number 'of points along, the rail. The points of operation preferably extend along the rail at suitable intervals on both sides of the position where the sig-- nal proper is located, so that the car wheels contacting with the operating mechanisms at intervals will cause the signal to be repeated a numberof times before the train reaches the location of the signal. In the present invention a flag is employed mounted upon a pivoted or swinging semaphore arm which, when actuated or oscillated repeatedly by the action of the car wheels at the several points ofoperation Will cause the flag to wave to attract attention thereto.

So that my invention may be more readily understood reference is made to the following detail description in connection with the accompanying drawings- In the drawings: 7

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a railway track showing the arrangement of the signal operating mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the same.

Figs. 3 to 9 are detail views of the mechanism.

able intervals along the track are positioned hangers as shown at 2 in the drawings.

These hangers are in the form of U-shaped or channel members which are located between the ties and which have laterally ex- Automatic Signalof 1 represents a section of a track. At suit-.

members 2. These members or housings 2 are positioned immediately adjacent the rail and preferably abut-against the same. lVithin each housing or member 2 is disposed an upstanding plunger 5 having oppositely inclined surfaces 6 at the head thereof. Upon these contact surfaces the wheels of the car act to force the plunger downward, the heads or contact surfaces being positioned in close proximity to the rail and slightly above the upper head thereof. The plunger 5 preferably extends through the floor or 'baseof the member 2' a suitable distance and through an opening in the cover plate 4. Passing through ahole 7 in the plunger, near the head 6 thereof, is a laterally extending pin 8, and surrounding the plunger 5 and bearing against the base of the housing 2 and against the-pin 8 is a coiled spring 9. Said spring normally acts to 'maintain the plunger in elevated position when not engaged by the car 'wheel. On the opposite side of the rail from the housing 2 and in horizontal alinement therewith is a plate 10 suitably secured to the same ties as the member 2. This plate 10 bridges or spans the ties, and on the inside thereof 2'. e. the side next to the rail, is a depending flange or plate 11 extending downwardly between the ties.

An elongated vertical slot 12 is formed in the flange 11. Pivotally connected near one of the upper corners of the flange or plate 11 is a second plate 13. This plate 13 is pivoted near one side edge thereof and the pin 8 carried'by the plunger 5, which pin passes through a suitable opening in the rail"1. Therefore it-will be readily seen that the pin 8 being carried by the plunger 5 will'inove downwardly therewith when "said plunger depressed by the car wheels and the other end of' the pin Shaving engagement with'the horizontal slot in the pivoted plate 13 will cause the plate 13 to rock about'its pivot point andmove relative tothe'stationary plate 11. V t r has extending from the top The plate 13 thereof an upstanding ear or lug-1'5; ear or lug 15 has pivotally This two transversely extending flanges 17 The member '16 being pivotally connected with connected thereto an angle member or plate '16 which has the pivoted with.

Rigidly connected at the ends by suitable means to each flange 17 of the member 16 are relatively long bars 13, which extend along the side of and parallel to the tracks plate 13 is caused to move there- I. These bars 18 aresupported intermedi- 1 ate their ends at suitable intervals by guide brackets 19 fastened to the ties, andsaid bars are interconnected by the tie plates 20 having upstanding flanges 21 to which the ends of the bars are rigidly fastened.

Pivotally fastened to the base of the member 20 is one arm of a bell crank lever 22,

- which is pivoted at 23 to a suitable support as 24, preferably in the form of an extra tie. The other end of the lever 22 has pivotally fastened thereto a member 25 having a vertical flange 26 to which is rigidly secured another bar 27. This bar 27 extends across the track at right angles to the rail thereof, passing through or under the rails.

' rod '32 extends to within a short distance of the top of the post where it is connected ;to a semaphore arm 33 by an angle arm 34.

The semaphore arm 33 is supported at the top of the post 30 through suitable brackets '35 being pivotally connected to the post at 36, and carrying on its upper end a visual slgnal 1n the form of a flag or target 37.

Near the upper end of the post 30 is secured a bell 38, and connected to the lower end of the semaphore arm 33 is a hammer arm or striker 39 so fastened thereto that when the arm 33 is oscillated around its pivot point the hammer 39 will contact Withand sound said bell.

The operation of my signal operating mechanism will be readily understood. The

wheels of the car passing over the rail willcontact with the head 6 of the plunger and depresses the same, whereby the pin 8 is depressed which incturn causes the plate 13 totiltor rock-around its pivot point. The

I 'movement of the plate 13 causes the bars 18 to reciprocate, whichin turn rocks the bell crank lever 22 and this lever through its connecting rod operates the leve'r'29 towhich the bar 32 is attached, and the bar 32 being connected withthe semaphore arm oscillates "the same causing the. signal at the end thereof to bewaved, and also causing the hammer to sound the bell.

. It is my intention to locate a plurality V .of these ,mechanisms alongthe track at suitable intervals, and have them so interconnected and spaced that the car wheels will actuate the mechanism successively and cause the semaphore arm to oscillate a number of times before the car reaches the location of the signal, thereby waving the fla or visual signal, and also sounding the bel or audible signal a number of times before the location of the signal proper is reached.

I further contemplate placing upon the semaphore arm a light as at 10, so a visual signal will be provided in the dark. This light is preferably electric and connected to a suitable source of power.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An automatic signal actuating mechanism comprising a housing supported from the tie by laterally extending flanges and located adjacent the rail, a spring pressed plunger adapted to be depressed and positioned within the housing, said plunger.

having a head with which the car wheels are adapted to contact, a laterally extending pin secured at one end to the plunger near the head thereof, the other end of the pin having engagement with a plate havmg an elongated vertical slot, a pivoted plate secured-to the first mentioned plate, the pin engaging a horizontal slot in the pivot plate, and operable connections between the pivoted plate and a-.pivoted signal arm.

2. An automatic signal actuating mechanism comprising a housing located adjacent the rail, a spring pressed upstanding plunger adapted to be depressed and positioned within the housing and having a ,head adapted to "be engaged by the wheels of a car, a laterally extending pin secured at one end of the plunger, the pin having engagement with a plate having a vertically extending slot, a second plate pivoted to the first mentioned plate, the second plate having an open ended horizontal, slot extend-- ing from one side edge thereof, the pin having engagement with said slot, an upstanding flange formed integral with the top of the pivoted plate andoperable connections between the same and a pivoted signal arm.

3. .An automaticsignal actuating mechathe rail, a plunger positioned and adapted to be depressed within the housing, and having a head with which the car wheelsare adapted to contact, a lateral projection on said plunger, the projection having engagement with a pivoted plate, a signal arm' in theform of a bell crank lever, said arm being pivotally connected to an upstanding support, one end of the signal'arm carrying a visual signal and the other end of the arm carrying a striker arm adapted to nism comprising a housing located adjacent contact with a "bell positioned upon the upstanding support, and operable connections between the pivot plate and the signal arm comprising longitudinally reciprocating bars interconnected with bell crank levers and a vertically extending bar pivotally connected with the signal arm.

4:. An automatic signal actuating mechanism comprising ahousing located adjacent the rail, a plunger positioned and adapted to be depressed within the housing and having a head with which the car wheels are adapted to contact, a laterally projecting pin on the plunger, a guide plate in which said pin is adapted to reciprocate vertically, a bell crank lever pivoted on said plate and having a horizontally arranged slot to receive said pin, said lever having operative connection with a signal arm. I

5. An automatic signal actuating mecha nism comprising a housing located adjacent I the rail, a spring pressed plunger adapted a pivoted plate, said plate having a horizontal slot to receive said pin, said plate.

having a lever arm thereon and operable connections between sald lever arm and a swlnging signal arm.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

SAM FARRIS BAsHARA;

Witnesses:

WM. H; VINsoN, A. Gr. CooLY. 

